There were violent scenes between fans and a thrilling Bradford 2-2 Barnsley draw which also sees a goal scored from the own half.
Fans engaged in physical confrontations on Manningham Lane and outside Bradford Arms pub, with incidents including people being knocked down, kicked over, bottles thrown, a woman pouring beer on a man and being pushed to the ground.
Mounted police and specialist officers intervened to control the disorder, with police vans arriving amid further disturbances.
No immediate arrests were reported, and police are unlikely to comment until Monday due to a new Service Level Agreement.
Despite the tension, police escorted Barnsley fans to the stadium while Bradford fans chanted.
The match ended in a draw, with a notable goal from Reyes Cleary preventing Bradford City from taking the lead.
Bradford vs Barnsley… 🏴🙈 pic.twitter.com/4VbIHTEbRv
— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) October 20, 2025
RIP to the Barnsley fan who got floored and rinsed with a can 😭 #bcafc pic.twitter.com/Q2PAN3hPxg
— Tom 🦇 (@allmoshnopit) October 19, 2025
“Oh South Yorkshire is full of shit” was heard being sung, with Barnsley fans responding: “You’re just a town full of smackheads” as police tried to keep fans apart.
One person watching on said, as per Telegraph & Argus: “It all got a bit silly at one point. There was quite a bit of face to face aggro and a few people ended up on the ground.
“At one point, I counted three people flat on their backs, one of whom was having beer poured over his head.
“A lass even got involved and was going towards the Barnsley fans.”
Bradford and Barnsley get acquainted 👊 #barnsley #tykes #league1 #Bradford #bantams pic.twitter.com/El2sJ4jOQp
— away day lads (@awaydayladsfs) October 19, 2025
The game itself saw Barnsley fought back twice to draw with Bradford. Antoni Sarcevic (9′) had put Bradford ahead, before Reyes Cleary (24′) scored a stunning 60-yard goal.
Stephen Humphrys (45+4′) put the Bantams ahead again, but Patrick Kelly’s goal secured a point for Barnsley.
Bradford missed the chance to go top of the League One table, and dropping their first home points since promotion from League Two.
Bradford sit 3rd in League One with 25 points from 12 games, while Barnsley are 10th with 18 points from 11 games.
Bradford boss Graham Alexander said: “It was a brilliant game where two sides absolutely went for it in a derby.
“I was really pleased with our attacking play and the way we went about ourselves after conceding. It is frustrating to take the lead twice and be pegged back both times, but I am very happy with the goals we scored and the level of play going forward.
“While we could have done better for their second goal, the first is just world class; it is another point on the board, however, it was good to see the team push so hard at the end to try and grab the winner.”
He added: “I think anyone can see when a team pushes so hard and shows so much quality in their game, they cannot help but be proud.
“There is going to be some frustration among some people because we could have won today, but I think the supporters can see the team, minute after minute, pushed really hard to grab the three points.
“We will always have their support and trust as long as we show how much we are pushing to win games.”
Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane said on Cleary’s goal, per Yorkshire Post: “My biggest thing would be that I just felt like the whole place stood still and waited to see what happened.
“It was quite unique, really. I think everyone was just like, is this going in or not? And we all stood still. The place felt like it just went silent, and we were waiting for the outcome.
“And lucky enough, obviously, it went in. Credit to Reyes. Look, he’s been in a bit of fresh air the last couple of weeks.
“His heart was right to play. Two and two for him. And he looks sharp, and he looks electric, and he looks a threat.”
On his side becoming the first team to take something away from Valley Parade, he added: “To sum it up, it’s difficult I suppose, just because it was end-to-end.
“I think both teams did enough to win it at certain stages. I think the big thing for me is that I’m so proud of the lads.
“I said to them at half-time, you need to take the ball and play with courage. There’s more space than what you think. And I thought for the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, that’s where I was standing.
“And then at the end, we’ve done so much work on the late goal situation. I could have easily put Robbo (Marc Roberts) on and go five at the back. But I thought, you know what, let’s see if the work has come through.”
This is how social media users reacted on the violent scenes between fans and a thrilling Bradford 2-2 Barnsley draw which also sees a goal in the own half…
Vicky Pattinson: This is just pathetic. Adults using a game of football as an excuse for violence. There’s families and elderly that go to these matches, myself and my children included. Behaving like pack animals, not one of them can call themselves a true fan.
Gemma Louise: Embarrassing 🙄 go to the game – watch the game – go home 🤦♀️ the reason why I won’t take my son to matches ! Bell ends
Jenni Bradley: The Barnsley supporters I saw arriving at Foster Square station had had already been drinking and were very noisy but I didn’t think this would happen .The Bradford supporters I saw seemed very happy and relaxed. What a shame.
Paul Wheater: 1 pcso standing between them… 🤦🏽♂️… it was just a bit of rivalry. 1 copper isn’t stopping 2 firms having at it. 😅
Stephen Brooke: Can anyone tell me why this type of behaviour seems confined to football. You can go to any other sports event and not have to fear violence.
Martyn John Smith: Easy fix here. Stop letting away fans drink in the only pub opposite the ground and where every fan going to the ground have to pass. Don’t need to be a rocket scientist.
Pat Bleau Mbe: Just wasting police time.
Kirsty Louise: Grown men acting like this is embarrassing and in front of kids aswell 🥴
Kirk MacRae: They need to grow up its only a bloody game … 👎..
Lynn Haley: Don’t like it don’t anybody think of the kids
Maria Spence: Embarrassing just go watch game and enjoy the football
David Nettleton: What’s wrong with these cockwobbles. Grown men acting like imbeciles. There is banter but this is not cool.
Rachel Butterworth: The way the away fans behaved yesterday in all of town down at the bottom, in spoons, on the streets on the way up where family’s were shopping etc was absolutely disgusting, an not once did I see any Bradford fan respond, or retaliate in any way football is football but to behave like that isn’t been a football fan it’s been absolute bell ends !!
Chris Gardner: Begs the question why the Bradford Arms is the designated away pub, which effectively brings both sets of supporters together
Beverley Bell: OMG why on earth they doing this. Can they not behave themselves. I did wonder why there were so many police present at the train station and some came onto the train just before they reached the Bradford Interchange train station on my return back from my day trip. I did speak to one of the cops at the train station on the outcome of the match and he told me it was a 2 all draw, but I am surprised to see that there was problems before the match. No wonder there were a lot around after the match in preparation just in case there were trouble on the way home by those who attended the football match.
